Winter feeding sites save time and money

Dec 06, 2022

More and more cattle producers are looking at extensive winter feeding options.

This involves feeding the animals out on the field through swath grazing, bale grazing, processing or using stockpiled forages.

Agri-Environmental Specialist Keana Boere says the animals are out on the field and their feed is already located on that field.

"So producers don't have to start their tractor every morning. So it saves some time and some money. In addition, the nutrients that are deposited from the manure, or from those feed sources are already out on that field. So there are less manure hauling costs, and crops grown on that field potentially could use those nutrients in the next growing season."

She says as a result it's important when selecting a site for winter feeding to think about environmental impacts.

"So selecting sites with low slopes, because steeper slopes have a greater risk of runoff and the potential for nutrients to end up in water bodies. You can also add structures to a site like berms, spaces or ditches just to help control runoff and erosion. Second is to consider the ground cover of the site. Vegetation cover of any kind slows and traps runoff water."

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Video: Winter Canola Trial in Mississippi | Can It Work for Double Cropping? | Pioneer Agronomy

Can winter canola open new opportunities for growers in the Mid-South? In this agronomy update from Noxubee County, Mississippi, Pioneer agronomist Gus Eifling shares an early look at a first-year winter canola trial and what farmers are learning from the field.

Planted in late October on 30-inch rows, the crop is now entering the bloom stage and progressing quickly. In this video, we walk through current field conditions, fertility management, and how timing could make this crop a valuable option for double-cropping soybeans or cotton.

If harvest timing lines up with early May, growers may be able to transition directly into another crop during ideal planting windows. Ongoing field trials will help determine whether canola could become a viable rotational option for the region.

Watch for:

How winter canola is performing in its first season in this Mississippi field

Why growers chose 30-inch rows for this trial

What the crop looks like as it moves from bolting into bloom

Fertility strategy, including nitrogen and sulfur applications

How canola harvest timing could enable double-cropping with soybeans or cotton

Upcoming trials comparing soybeans after canola vs. traditional planting

As more growers look for ways to maximize acres and diversify rotations, experiments like this help determine what new crops might fit into existing systems.